August Literary Holidays

August may have few nationally acknowledged holidays, but if you appreciate literature I’ve got a few things you can celebrate.

Kicking off the month we have National Book Lover’s Day taking place on August 9th. On this day celebrate by enjoying the smell of books, visit the library, drop literary references into casual speech, or just enjoy a favorite book.  Here are a couple book-themed books to help with the day:

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi is the author’s memoir from her time in Iran when she started an underground book club with seven girls reading western books outlawed by the government.

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine depicts an alternative history where the Great Library of Alexandria still exists and it is illegal to own books.

#BookBingoNW2018: Award-Winning Authors

I’m sure you have heard of the Newbery Medal, Man Booker Prize, Hugo Award, and many, many other author awards. In addition to these well-known awards, let me introduce you to a few newer ones and their winning authors.

Black Caucus American Library Association (BCALA) Literary Award, established in 1994, recognizes African American authors in both fiction and nonfiction. Some of these outstanding works are listed below:

Grace by Natashia Deon follows the life of a runaway slave and her daughter. Deon’s writing is beautiful and gives you an intense conclusion. This won the Fiction Award in 2017.

The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore was the Nonfiction winner in 2011. This fascinating book is a memoir of the author and also the story of another boy who grew up in a neighborhood nearby with the same name.

Chasing Utopia by Nikki Giovanni won the 2014 literary award by using simplicity and humor in this collection of poems that are part memoir.

  

July Literary Holidays

Here’s a quick look at some of the literary holidays you can celebrate this month: Almanacs, paperbacks, and the Wizarding World!

Happy National Paperback Day!

The entire month of July is read an Almanac month. Providing a wealth of knowledge, they are typically published once a year. The most common almanacs are used for planting dates, tide tables, and celestial events. However, those listed below are a little bit different than your typical almanac.

June Literary Holidays

Here are some interesting literary holidays to enjoy in June.

June is GLBT Book Month, which started as LGBT Book Month in the early 1990s. To quote the GLBT Book Month website: “[this is] a nationwide celebration of the authors and writings that reflect the lives and experiences of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.”

In honor of this month, let me point you

May Literary Holidays

May is a great month for books. Let me give you the holidays to prove it.

May is Get Caught Reading Month, which started in 1999 as a way to encourage the love of reading. Bonus: It can be a great time to read outdoors and make your reading visible to the world. 

Children’s Book Week, which started April 30, continues through May 6 this year. This is one of the longest-running national literacy initiatives, beginning in 1919. The official posters for Children’s Book Week are collectible items, and this year’s poster was created by Jillian Tamaki with the slogan “One World, Many Stories.”

The picture book illustrators chosen for each year’s poster are great choices for celebrating Children’s Book Week. Take a look at Tamaki’s They Say Blue as well as Last Stop on Market Street (written by Matt de la Pena), illustrated by Christian Robinson, the 2017 poster illustrator. Hooray for Books! is a delightful picture book about a turtle finding its favorite book, written and illustrated by Brian Won, the 2016 poster illustrator.